Challenging and Changing for Better Care

Educating providers and encouraging them to talk to their LGBTQ+ patients about their needs helps foster a better patient-provider relationship. The acknowledgement that a patient belonging to this community may have certain needs than another patient who is not LGBTQ+ is important, and is one way the healthcare system can ensure it is providing equitable care. Theresa Tellier-Castellone EdD, MPH, MLS(ASCP), shares her thoughts on this and more.

Tell us about your own personal experiences as an LGBTQ+ person in health care and how it has it affected your career/your education.
I have been lucky to always be accepted by my colleagues. I have worked at one of my institutions for the past 18 years which includes my clinical internship year. I have always believed that I am many "things" before I am gay—a woman, a professional, now a wife and a mom. Being gay is part of me and does not make up my entirety of me. It is a piece of me I am very proud of and do not hide and so I am lucky that I have not had any negative consequences or experiences at my workplaces. I would "feel" people out before revealing I was gay as a student but as I got older, I cared less if people chose to take issue with that part of my life. As a full-time educator now and when I was the clinical instructor while working in the lab, I always want my students to feel comfortable with me. I make it very clear that my office and my classroom are safe spaces for everyone. I do not want people to feel different or like “outsiders.” I have felt that before, been very aware that I am the only gay person in a room and not felt comfortable. And this extends to my students beyond the LGBTQ+ community. I am lucky to have learned about many different cultures over the years from my colleagues and from my students.

What is the single most important change a healthcare system can make to improve LGBTQ+ medical care?
I believe right now the transgender community deserves the greatest amount of attention. From the perspective of the laboratory, providing the best quality results that represent the values, ranges, and results needed to best treat our transgender community members is vital.

What challenges have you encountered around increasing diversity and inclusion?
Being the sole director for my program has allowed me to increase diversity and inclusion as I see fit. I also work for an institution which is accepting and celebratory of their members in the LGBTQ+ community and so resources are available and in place.

Why do you think it is important for healthcare systems to recognize LGBTQ+ specific healthcare needs?
When a healthcare system recognizes and supports the LGBTQ+ community, they are saying that you are welcome here regardless of who you are or who you love. You are a person and that is what should be cared about in the realm of healthcare. You are a person with medical needs. But, when you add in that the healthcare system makes it clear that they support members of the LGBTQ+ community, there is an added bonus of feeling welcome and safe which only makes you want to be seen by providers that belong to that healthcare system. For me, when it comes to my health, the health of my wife and/or the health of my son, feeling safe, seen, and acknowledged as members of the community of that office or healthcare systems are extremely important to me.

In your experience, what obstacles does the LGBTQ+ community face when they interact with healthcare?
My direct experience as part of the LGBTQ+ community and interaction with healthcare began when my wife and I decided to start our family. Having children when you are part of this community is not cheap nor is it easy for everyone. We are blessed to live in Rhode Island where infertility laws extend coverage (and financial help) to same-sex couples and fertility centers are also LGBTQ+ friendly. The hospital where my wife gave birth was also extremely friendly and kind to us. My son's birth certificate lists "parent 1" and "parent 2" making me a legal guardian and correctly listed on his birth certificate, something that was very important to me. Because federal law does recognize my wife and I as a married couple, we did not move forward with my adopting my son since technically, by law, I am his other parent. However, some states do not see it this way and I have had friends who still elect to go through the adoption process in the event they travel to a state for work which is not nearly as LGBTQ+ friendly as ours here in the Northeast and, should something medically occur to their daughter and my friend who is the non-biological parent needs to take her to the hospital, will have full parental rights.

To read more Q&As with members of the LGBTQ+ community, click here.